The alleged sex racket in the early 1990s involved an ice cream parlour in Kozhikode in Kerala and was flagged as “ice-cream parlour sex case” by the media. Several young girls allegedly fell victim to the racket.

Achuthanandan’s petition was filed in the apex court in October 2013 after the Kerala High Court disallowed it.

Achuthanandan has been after this case as, according to him, the prime accused in it is former Kerala minister P.K. Kunhalikutty.

In 2011, at the fag end of Achuthanandan’s tenure as Chief Minister, the case was reopened based on a new revelation by K.A. Rauf, a close relative of Kunhalikutty.

But on Monday, the apex court not only disallowed the petition but also came down heavily on the veteran politician, saying the court’s precious time should not be used to settle political scores.

Reacting to the verdict, Achuthanandan said he will consult legal experts to decide on what needs to be done next.

Kunhalikutty, expressing happiness over the verdict, told reporters: “This is the umpteenth time that I am being cleared in the more than two-decade-old case. I have nothing against Achuthanandan and I also know that it’s not just he who is behind this case and I know everything.”